India-New Zealand test series: Kiwis name unchanged team for 1st test

Auckland: New Zealand has retained the lineup that beat the West Indies in consecutive tests in December for the first of two cricket tests against India starting Thursday at Eden Park. Captain Brendon McCullum said

India TV News Desk [ Updated: February 05, 2014 11:59 IST ]

india new zealand test series kiwis name unchanged team for 1st test

Auckland: New Zealand has retained the lineup that beat the West Indies in consecutive tests in December for the first of two cricket tests against India starting Thursday at Eden Park.

Captain Brendon McCullum said the pitch at Eden Park seemed likely to suit fast bowlers but New Zealand had resisted the temptation to name a fourth seamer ahead of India-born leg-spinner Ish Sodhi.

"There's always that temptation (to play a fourth seamer)," McCullum said. "But it's a tough ask on your No.3 batter (Kane Williamson) to go in as your first spinner.

"Also Ish has done a pretty good job as a wrist spinner. Even if the pitch doesn't offer a great deal of spin, he should be able to get something out of it."

New Zealand's bowling lineup includes seamers Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner. Boult and Southee were outstanding throughout the West Indies series.

"It's got a decent covering of grass, albeit funny looking grass at one end," McCulum said. "It looks hard as well so we can expect a bit more bounce that what there was against England (last year, in a drawn test.

"Hopefully, there's a bit of pace as well. I don't expect a huge amount of sideways movement but there may be just be enough."